Clamp-operating device for meat-skinning machines.



G. W. CUNNINGHAM. CLAMP OPERATING DEVICE FOR MEAT SKINNING MACHINESAPPLICATION FILED was, 1914.

1,1 11,953, Patented Sept.29,1914.

7H5 NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D

UNITED srnrrgngsg ggrnnr OFFICE- CLINTON W. CUNNINGHAM, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 KINGAN 88 COMPANY, LIMITED, 0F INDIANAPOLIS,INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CLAMP-OPERATING DEVICE FOR MEAT-SKINNING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Original application filed. May 26, 1914, Serial No. 841,115. Dividedand this application filed August 6, 1914. Serial No. 855,467.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, CLINTON W. CUN-NINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, inthe State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Clamp-Operating Devices for Meat-Skinning Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in meat skinning machines andmore particularly to the clamp and operating devices therefor, by meansof which the meat is pulled past the cutting means, this applicationbeing a division of application for patent filed by me on the 26th dayof May, 1914:, and designated by Serial No. 841,115.

One object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient devicesfor moving the clamp and to construct and arrange such devices, that thegreater the resistance which may be offered to the movement of the meatpast the cutter, the tighter the clamp will be applied.

A further object is to so construct and arrange clamp operatingmechanism that the clamp may be manually operated to cause the meatclamp to travel over a table away from the cutting means, or returned toproximity to the cutting means.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafterset forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a meat skinning machine embodying my improvements and Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view.

1 represents a table supported by suitable framework 2 and having uponits upper face, two parallel strips 3, spaced apart to form a groove orguideway 4 between them, said strips being provided on their upper faceswith wear plates 5. At one end of the guide strips, a frame 6 is locatedand supports a blade 7 and guide devices 8 for the meat to be skinned.

It is customary to sever a small portion of the skin at one end of thepiece of bacon before subjecting the latter to the machine and thenplace the piece of bacon in the po sition substantially as shown in Fig.1 with the body of the meat disposed over the blade and the severed'endof the skin under said blade. The projecting end of the skin will thenbe caused to be grasped between the jaws 9 of a clamp 10. This clampcomprises two levers 1112 pivotally connected together, and a spring "18tends to close the .jaws 9. These jaws are sufiiciently elonigatedtograsp-the skin of a piece of bacon "substantially from one edge to theother 7 thereof and when the clamp is moved to ef- 1 feet the skinningoperation or to return to position near the blade, said jaws may rideupon the wear plates 5 on the strips 3, while the free end of the lever11 may move in the groove or: guideway formed between said strips.

A drum 14 is mounted in suitable bearings on the framework below theplane of the table 1 and is provided with a suitable manually operablecrank 15. A rope 16, or equivalent flexible device, is wound upon thedrum 1 1 and after passing through a hole 17 in the table, is secured tothe free end of the lever 11 of the clamp. 7 Another rope 18 orequivalent flexible device, is wound in the reverse direction upon thedrum 14: and eX- tends therefrom to the far end of the table where itpasses over a pulley 19 mounted in a suitable opening in the table. Fromthe pulley 19, the rope 18 extends forwardly and after passing over apulley 20 mounted at the free end of lever 12 of the clamp 10, issecured to the free end of clamp lever 11.

It will be observed that when the bacon is positioned and the skinthereof is grasped by the jaws of the clamp as shown in Fig. 1, rotationof the drum 14: in one direction will cause the jaws of the clamp totighten their grip upon the bacon skin and the clamp will be movedbodily, thus pulling the bacon past the blade and effecting the cleanseverance of the skin. By rotating the drum in the reverse direction,the clamp will be returned to position to be engaged with the skin ofanother piece of bacon.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of myinvention, without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope and hence I do not wish to restrict myself to the precise detailsherein set forth.

Havingfully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is j v 1. The combination with a. frame, of aclamp movable thereon, said clamp comprising two pivoted levers carryingjaws, a drum mounted in the frame, a rope wound on said drum andconnected with one of the clamp ends, and another rope wound on the drumand movably connected with the other clamp lever and secured to thefirst-mentioned clamp lever.

2. The combination with a frame, of a clamp movable thereon andcomprising pivoted levers provided with jaws, a drum mounted in theframe, a rope wound on said drum and secured to one of the clamp levers,a pulley mounted in the frame, another rope wound in the reverse"direction upon said drum, said last-mentioned rope passing over thepulley in the frame and then movably connected with the other clamplevers and fixed to the first-mentioned clamp lever.

3. The combination with a frame, of a clamp comprising hinged levers andjaws on said levers, a drum, a rope wound on the drum and connected withone of the clamp levers, another rope wound in the opposite direction onsaid drum and secured to the same clamp lever, a pulley on the otherclamp lever over which said last mentioned rope passes, and a pulleysupported by the frame intermediate of the drum and the clamp, overwhich the last-mentioned rope passes.

f. The combination with a table provided with a guideway and wear platesat respective sides of said guideway, of a clamp comprising pivotedlevers provided with elongated jaws movable on said wear plates, a drum,a rope wound on said drum and secured to one of the clamp levers, apulley at the far end of the guideway, another rope wound in theopposite direction on said drum and passing over said pulley, said lastmentioned rope secured to the first-men tioned clamp lever and movablyconnected with the other clamp lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceoftwo subscribing witnesses.

CLINTON V. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

Enw. J. SHARPLEY, J. LOGAN DUNCAN,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, I). G.

